Assemble equipment

Inform patient of procedure

Select a suitable vein - e.g. the vein in the antecubital fossa or forearm

Palpate the vessel to exclude the possibility that it is an artery

Apply a tourniquet medial to the selected site

Put on gloves

Cleanse skin with an alcohol wipe

Fix the vein by applying pressure to skin over the vein, approximately two inches below venepuncture site

Leaving the coloured shield on the needle, screw it onto the holder

Remove shield and approach the skin, with needle bevel uppermost at an angle of 35~45 degrees

When the needle has penetrated the skin, realign it with the vein and reduce the angle to about 15 degrees

Introduce the tube into the holder, with middle and forefinger supporting flange of the holder, push the tube with the thumb to the end of the holder, puncturing the diaphragm of the stopper.

As soon as blood starts to flow into the tube, remove the tourniquet.

When blood flow ceases, gently disengage tube from the holder - if more samples are required, repeat from stage 12

Tubes with additives should be gently inverted to mix contents - shaking may cause haemolysis.

Always draw samples without additives first (see videos below).

Place a clean swab or piece of cotton wool over the needle as it is gently withdrawn, pressure should be applied to the site until haemostasis occurs, at which time an adhesive dressing is applied. It is not recommended that the patient bend their arm as this increases the intravascular pressure.

Ensure all samples are clearly labelled

Never re-sheath needles as this is the commonest source of needles stick injury.

Ensure all sharps are disposed of safely and examine holder for any contamination, in which case it should be discarded - in normal practice the holder does not come into contact with blood products and is intended for multiple uses.